Page 84 of Saving the Last Heir
“I’ll put a call in,” Jackson said, then headed to the office.
An hour later, a delivery driver arrived with bags and bags filled with gyro and falafel sandwiches, fries, and Greek salads, along with pitas and tubs of hummus.
Brent had half a gyro stuffed in his mouth as he tried to speak, pointing at Jackson.
“Your new boy toy needs to come hang out every day!”
“Yeah,” Carlo agreed. “When this dude’s around, my bologna-and-cheese sandwiches go to the waste, and that isnota bad thing.”
Over the last week, Jackson had been spending more time at the garage, and the guys had fully accepted him as one of their own. It didn’t hurt that he bought either breakfast or lunch—some days both—when he was here, but they truly seemed to enjoy his presence. He had no ego about anything they worked on, asking intuitive questions about their jobs, and helping out where he could when he wasn’t helping me with the car.
When I finished my food, I excused myself and went back to the paint room to continue working on the car. Since we had no upcoming paint jobs, I’d turned the room into a private workshop so I could do what I needed to with the car. It wastaking longer with just me working on it and a few assists from Jackson, but it was almost done.
Jackson joined me a few minutes later, locking the door behind him to make sure the guys didn’t barge in the way Carlo had earlier in the day.
“How’s it looking?”
I was under the car on a rolling creeper, inspecting some of the work I’d done.
“Okay,” I said. “I think I still need to?—”
“Ah, shit,” Jackson hissed.
I rolled out from under the car and looked up at him. “”What’s wrong?”
He was looking down at his phone. “It’s Joseph.”
I scrambled the rest of the way out from under the car and moved to his side.
“Are you gonna answer it?” I asked.
He nodded slowly, then hit the speaker button.
“Hello,” he said, putting his fingers to his lips to make sure I stayed quiet.
“Where’s the bitch?” a gruff voice growled from the phone speaker.
For a moment, I was both offended and terrified that he’d perhaps discovered who I was and that I was helping Jackson, but then I realized he was talking about Christian’s sister Bryn. This pig was calling a little girl a bitch? From what Jackson hadtold me about this prick, hewas the one who should have that moniker. I gritted my teeth and stayed quiet.
“I’m working on it,” Jackson said.
“Working on it?” Joseph sounded beyond pissed. “It’s been a week since we had our little talk. I expected action from a winged dragon, not a bunch of foot dragging and excuses.”
Jackson let out a low growl. “You want me to kidnap a kid who is the youngest child of one of the three most powerful wyrm families in the world. You and I both know that’s not going to be easy. I have to consider their security, the timing, and the fact that you don’t want them knowing I’m taking her. You can’t possibly think I can get all that done in a couple?—”
“You don’t tell me what can and can’t be done, Jack,” Joseph snarled. “This isn’t a fucking game.”
“Did I say it was?” Jackson barked.
A somewhat weary sigh emanated from the speaker, making me think the guy was struggling to maintain his composure.
“Jack,” Joseph went on, “I get it. You’re best pal, his baby sister, you gotta put a bullet in her head, all very deep stuff. I mean, heh, I suppose you don’thaveto use a gun. You could choke her to death, slit that little throat. Fuck, you can shift and bite her goddamn arm off and let her bleed out for all I care.”
I pressed my hand to my mouth, horrified at how callous and uncaring this monster was. How could any human talk like that aboutanyone? Much less achild? Jackson gave me a warning look, and I nodded, keeping my mouth covered. God, what I would give to take a chainsaw to that piece of shit.
“One thing you have going for you, though, Jack,” Joseph said, “Looks like Christian Bauer has no clue what’s coming. That’s good. It’s very good. It means you haven’t let our little plan slip.”
“What the fuck are you talking about?” Jackson said.
